Self-adjusting sand-mold box



June s 1926. A 1,5883 69 J.J.ROURKE SELF AD'JUSTING SAND MOLD Box Filed Nov. 13, 1924 A 'Mmmm Patented :lune 8, 1925.

l UNITED "STATES,-

' 1,588,269 PATENT OFFICE.

d JOSEPH J. noURxE, oF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

sELF-Anms'rnve SAND-MOLD Box.v l,

Application led November 13, 1924.` Serial No. 749,635.- i

This invention relates to a box that is designed to be used in ak foundry to reinforce a sand mold while molten metal is being oured into the mold, the invention having reference more particularly to an adjustable sandmold box Vthat is adapted to be used instead of a coverboard and 1 weights thereon, for holding down the top of a sand mold to resist the tendency of the hotmetal to cause rupture of the mold.

An object of the invention is to provide a sand Inol'd box and weight, which shall be of suchy construction as to be adapted to be quickly' applied and clamped to a sand moldfollowing fthe removal of a molding flask from the mold.y I

Another-object is to provide an improved sand mold box which shall .be of such construction as .to be adjustable to a sand mold,

whether the side faces.r of the mold be vertical or slightly inclined, and which shall bel adapted to prevent expansion of the:

mold both laterally and vertically, while eliminating theitrouble and laborincidental r to placing heavyweights upon the sand mold with the flask on the mold. f, A' further object is to provide an .improved sand .mold box which shall bey so constructed as toy be adapted to-be placed on a sand mold yafter having been vmade in a snap flask, without injury to the sides of the mold when they are vertical, and also to eliminate 'the cost and trouble incidental to the production of molds having inclined sides and a sand mold boxof a rigid *construction4 having slanting sides, necessitating the placing of weights upon the top of the box or clamps to hold the box in place, with no certainty of the box having close contact with the top and sides of the mold; which improved mold box shall be of substantial and simple construction, easily and quickly handled, anddu-` rable and economical in use. .i

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view,the invention consists in. 'an expansible or contractible moldv box of` novel construction adapted to operate automatically inresp'onse to the handling of the box to place it in position for use or in removing it from a mold; and, the invention consists also further in the novel parts, and in the combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and further more definitely defined and claimed hereinafter.

Referring to'` the drawings z-lTigure 1 is a perspective'view of the moldbox constructed substantiallyy inv yaccordance with the invention, the several vparts of thebox appearing as when the top is supported and the sideparts hanging thereon;` F i'g.2 is f a side elevationv of the box, the` parts there of being represented aswhen kthe sideparts are supported on their bottoms; Fig. 3 is an longitudinal central` section partially broken away showing a sand mold andthe i box clamped thereto; and Fig. 4' is anl end elevation partially broken away showing themold box onthemold and nearlyy ap: proaching. the clamping position.

Similar reference characters in the` several figures ofthe drawings` indicate corresponding elements or `featuresof construction herein referred to indetail.

As an aid tov an understanding of the purposes and mode of operation of the invention, a san'd mold is illustratedin.` the drawings and comprisesja bottom part 1 anda top part-'1,the lcompletemold having a hollow form 2`thereinassumedto have been `molded by 'Kmeans of `a' pattern, the mold having a .gate 3y to conductv molten metal to the mold form. l

The self-adjusting mold box comprises la metallic top slab 1 which is rectangular in plan and in some cases is oblong, the c orners of the slab having projecting brackets 5, 6, 7 and 8 thereon respectively, the brackets being integralwith the edge yportions of the slab as preferably constructed, andl preferably the brackets extend downwardly from the slab and have fish-tailH ends. The brackets have longitudinal guide wings 9, 10, 11 and v12 thereon respectively and also transverse guide wings 13, 14, 15 and 16, respectively. Each guide wing is. integral with its supporting bracket 'and extends downward therefrom, each bracket having a longitudinal, and a transverse wingthereon, the wings being integrally connected vtogether and supported at right angles-each to the other; Each guide wing hasv an inclined guide slot 17 therein that diverges upwardly in direction from the adjacent wing and constitutes a cam or wedging device. and. 19 are provided lwhich are alike and nearly as long as the top slab, and each plate has ears 20 and 21 on its outer `side adjacent to the ends thereof, the ears having guide pins 22 and 23 thereon respectively Two side clamp plates 18 that extend through the slots in the adjacent transverse wings between which the clamp plate is guided. Two similar end clam-p pla-tes 24 and 25 are providedand each is arranged between two longitudinal guide wings and has ears 26 and 27 onl its outer side adjacent to the ends thereof that are provided with guidel pins -28z"and 29 respectively which extend through the slots in the longitudinal' guide wings adjacent thereto. One ofthe guide pins is sufficiently broad to prevent its rotation` in the slot yet permittingf slight tilting of the clamp plate,

liftedl by means of the end plates, the end plates being provided with handles 30 and' 30 respectively whereby they may be lifted. Preferably the inner faceV of each clampplate is suitably roughened or providedv with cross ribsSl adapted to slightly sink into the side vfaces of the sand mold under the pressure exerted on the plates, to secure the plates to the mold,

The top slab 4 has a suitable opening 3Q, therein permitting metal to be poured into gates in the mold.

In practicaluse the mold box is carried, lowered, and lifted by means ofthe handles on the clamp plates. Upon lifting the end plates they are' carried upward rela-tively to the guidewings and they in turn lift the side clamp plates until stopped by the pins at the tops'of the cam slots, enabling the clamp plates to lift the'top slab. AAfter a sandl 'mold has been made the molding. flask is removed from the mold, and the mold box isplaced on the mold,- the top slab resting upon the top of the mold, and' the handles 30 on the end plates being released, all the clamp plates 'descend by the force' of gravity and are forced by means of the cani slots against the surfaces ofv the sand mold, whereby the top slab is securely clamped to the mold instead ofbeing clum-v silyV held down as .in common practise byineans of heavy pieces of iron or stones. `When the molten metal is poured. into. the

mold the san-d mold is protected by theselfadjusting box against distortion or fracp ture, so that the correct shape of' the mold form is maintained during the cooling of the metal in the mold, resulting in the production of superior castings. Then the casting has become sutliciently cooled to hold its shape the mold box is lifted from the mold, and; the mold may be broken up as usual to release the casting produced thereby.` l Y yWhat is claimed as new is l.- A self-adjusting sand mold box including a top slab provided with projecting pairs of guide wings having'each an in-V clined guide slot therein, and a plurality of clamp plates arranged between` the wings ofthe pairs respectively and provided with lug pins movably extending through` the slots in the wings. j

2. A self-adjusting sand mold box iu-v cluding a top slab provided: with: depending guide wings having cam slots therein respectively to control `clamp plates, and aL plurality Aof clamp plates provided each with a pair of guide pins extending through. the slots in a pair of the wings, the pins; on two opposite plates extending under the pins yon the remaining clamp plates to liftthe latter plates.

3. A self-adjusting vsand moldf box in, cluding a top slab that is rectangular in plan and provided on the corners thereof with projecting brackets, each bracket having two relatively angular guide Wings on the normally under side thereof, the slab having an aperture therein, and a plurality of clamp plates arranged below the edge portions of'the slab, each plate having connections with. two o-f the wings to guide. the plate downwardly and inwardly or upwardly and' outwardly relatively to the other plates and: the slab. n

4. A self-adjustingsand mold box; i11- cludingy a top slab, a plurality of clamp plates to secure the slab, in. place on a mold, the plates being arranged under the edge portions of` the slaband having` each a pair ofv ears on the outer side thereof and grip-1 ping projections on the innery side thereof, two opposite` ones of the plates havingeach a handle thereon, guiding means to, adjust.- ably connect the ears on the remaining clamp: plates with the slab, and guidingry and lugging'means to connect the ears 011 the handled clamp plates with the slab and also with the otherlgu-idingmeans.

In testimony whereof, I affix- 'myfsigna1 ture on thelst day of-Novemben 1924s Josera J. nofuaxa 

